June 15, 2025 - June 29, 2025

Of Sibyls and Source: Performance in the Landscape II

Of Sibyls and Source: Performance in the Landscape II

WORKSHOP COST:
4.950,0€
Workshop Dates:
June 15, 2025 - June 29, 2025
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About the Workshop

Of Sibyls and Source: Performance in the Landscape is a two-week exploration of live art in geo-mythic sites in the Central Italian regions of Umbria and Marche.

This dynamic residency is guided by research, inquiry, and connection through myth-making and embodied presence in/with/of the land. We will spend three days exploring the Parco Nacional di Sibilline, part of the Apennines named for the Sibyl, or prophetess of antiquity, who is believed to have lived in a cave at the top of Monte Sibilla. This includes a day-long hike to the top of Monte Sibila and an excursion into the Gola dell' Infernaccio, a protected landscape of ancient beech trees and gorges crossed by an ancient pilgrimage trail. We will experience sites of ritual and esoteric rites related to the myth of the Sibyl mentioned in literary sources as well as  living local folk traditions dating back thousands of years.

Our time together will also include day trips to the Nera River with Roman ruins whose source is the Monti Sibillini and entrance into the remarkable Frassasi Caves. Performances may take place at any or all of these locations including the impeccably maintained medieval town of Monte Castello di Vibio, our home base. At the conclusion of the residency we will hold a screening and live performance event in Monte Castello di Vibio.  Our group includes a collaborative documentarian, misael soto, to help participants realize our work through video documentation as well as other methods in addition to providing critical feedback.  (see below).

Please note this Residency includes physical complexities: moderate hiking up to an altitude of 7654 ft (2333 m), cold-water wild swimming and a cave visit. Applicants are responsible for their own physical wellbeing. With these logistical and locational considerations in mind, a brief Project Proposal (of approximately 300 words) is required for this workshop. Additionally, please specifically identify project proposals related to Parco Nacional di Sibilline, Nera River and Frassasi Cave for consideration. Please submit the proposal with a current CV and images of recent work (or link to a website) via email to: icarts.info@gmail.com  Responses will be issued within 48 hours.

Participants will be housed in the remarkably well-preserved Umbrian hill town of Monte Castello di Vibio.  Your Residency package is all-inclusive, providing welcome and departure services and airport transfer from the Rome Fiumicino, Leonardo Da Vinci Airport (FCO), aboard our comfortable private bus; single occupancy accommodations with shared bath (a wide range of upgrades with private bath are available); 3 meals* per day, when on campus, Monday-Thursday; Prosecco brunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday (when on campus) No meals are served on Friday - our excursion day - unless previously arranged. Your workshop includes the excursions below, however,  many additional options are available for an additional fee. Of course, 24/7 access to facilities and 24/7 bilingual support is provided. *Meal service is provided while in Monte Castello only, unless otherwise noted. Meals on excursions and admissions are not included in the cost, unless specifically noted in the itinerary.

Our Documentarian

Born in Puerto Rico (1986) and based in Miami, misael soto’s practice interrogates and subverts contextually associated everyday objects and systemic roles, disrupting and manipulating space, systems, and frameworks. The publicly accessible, time-based, and ephemeral work involves interventions made upon existing objects, performative activations, institutional mediations, and is often a combination of these elements. misael received their MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2018) and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Art History from Florida Atlantic University (2008). misael was the first ever Art in Public Life Resident with the City of Miami Beach's Department of Environment and Sustainability and Oolite Arts, where they founded the Department of Reflection. Beyond their public artworks which they have shown extensively for many years, misael has exhibited at MCA Chicago, Open Engagement 2015, the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami, Material Art Fair in Mexico City, David Castillo Gallery in Miami, and Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, amongst others.

 

 

Meet The Instructors

Heather Lyon
Heather Lyon is an artist and educator living off the grid in rural Maine, USA. Her work is a visual and movement-based inquiry into the sublime. She uses site-responsive performance, video and installation work to investigate the inter-weaving of relationships through gestures of coded communication and embodiment practices. She is a life long student of transcendental mediation and indigenous mystical traditions. She holds both a BFA and MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Selected exhibitions and performances include deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln, Massachusetts; Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockland; SPACE Gallery, Portland; IMRC Center, University of Maine Orono; Cynthia Winings Gallery, Blue Hill; Zaratan, Lisbon, Portugal; “The Picnic Pavilion” Venice, Italy; The State Silk Museum, Tbilisi, Georgia and Lichtenberg Studios in der Museums-Lounge, Berlin, Germany. She has received grants from the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation, The Foundation for Contemporary Arts and the Kindling Fund (Andy Warhol Foundation regranting program distributed by SPACE Gallery).
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Included Amenities

Click on the links below for detailed information about our included amenities.
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  • Airport transfer from and to the Leonardo da Vinci Rome/Fiumicino Airport (FCO) aboard our private bus (on scheduled dates only). Bus departs the airport promptly at 12PM.
  • Airport welcome service and assistance with baggage
  • 24/7 bi-lingual support with manager on site at all times
  • All ground transport aboard private buses or our ICA van, unless otherwise specified. Licensed and insured professional driver and ICA guide accompany all excursions. Orientation at each destination is provided as is departure coordination (guide service is available upon request — unless specified — for an additional fee)
  • Village orientation and complimentary drinks provided on arrival day
  • Private access to our 5-storey tower at our Palazzo Persiane (on sign-up basis) for spectacular morning and evening views
  • Access to our art materials shop (during posted hours)
  • Thorough orientation lecture and maps provided the evening before departure
  • Return transport to the Rome/Fiumicino Airport (departs 5:30AM) with rest stop
  • Departure service/airport assistance at airport
  • Unless otherwise specified, single occupancy accommodation is provided in rooms with a view of the Tiber Valley that includes sink and vanity. Rooms are with shared bath on each level (3 rooms per bath) in our 14th century convent building, The Asilo. Apartments, rooms with private bath and AC, double rooms, group or villa accommodations are available for couples, business associates/ friends, or groups for an additional fee
  • Linens and towels provided
  • Weekly housekeeping service with change of towels and linens
  • Free washing machine access
  • Good Wi-Fi connection and access to our library and film collection
  • 3 chef-catered, gourmet meals per day (buffet breakfast, 3-course lunch, 4-course dinner) — with wine at lunch and dinner (table wine provided at lunch and dinner. An excellent wine list is offered at additional cost), while in Monte Castello
  • Group dining service is as follows, with breakfast and lunch served in our dining room, etc, with dinner (weather permitting) served on our private terrace overlooking the Tiber Valley
  • Lunch and dinner are plated as follows: pasta course, main course, vegetable, fruit/salad, dessert
  • When requested at registration, vegetarian, vegan, and special dietary options are provided
  • After dinner drinks on our terrace overlooking the Tiber valley
  • Dining service is as follows: Breakfast: 8:00 AM; Lunch: 1:00PM; Dinner: 8:00 PM. No meals are served on Fridays (excursion day) unless otherwise specified
  • On Saturday and Sunday, a full buffet brunch with fresh pastry and Prosecco is served at 11:00 AM
  • On Saturday, homemade, wood-fired pizza is served at 7:00 PM (except on departure days, when a special farewell dinner is served)
  • Sunday dinner with antipasti is served at 7:00 PM
  • Farewell dinner on the evening prior to departure
  • 24/7 access to our primary building and library is provided, including access to workspaces, studios, and ceramics facility
  • Special access to certain cultural and art collections is available upon request
  • FOR VISUAL ARTISTS: private, or semi-private secure and monitored studio space is provided (24/7 access)
  • FOR WRITERS: private workspace is provided (24/7 access)
  • FOR GROUPS: Group workspace is provided (24/7 access)
  • FOR CERAMIC ARTISTS: 24/7 access to our ceramics facility
  • Free access to lectures and events at the Teatro Concordia
  • An end of the session exhibition with reception that includes hors d'oeuvres and Prosecco in our gallery. Posters are prepared to promote the event with copies provided to all participants
  • 1 excursion per week is included (unless otherwise specified in the itinerary) aboard our private bus. Additional trips can of course be scheduled and given our central location. (Day trips are possible to as far north as Siena or Florence and as far south as Rome.)
  • Advanced reservations and ticket purchases for groups and individuals
  • Concierge services provided upon request at an hourly rate
  • Restaurant reservations (provided under Concierge services)
  • Car rental
  • Critique series with visiting visual artists
  • Artist materials workshops
  • Drawing and painting sessions from the figure
  • Cooking classes
  • Cheesemaking workshop
  • Pizza-making workshop
  • Kids cooking classes
  • Wine appreciation and Sommelier Courses
  • Wine and olive oil tastings
  • Vineyard tours
  • Truffle hunting
  • Ballroom dance classes
  • Weekend excursions to flea markets and natural sites
  • Shopping excursions to cashmere and leather outlets, to Deruta famous for fine painted traditional ceramics, and antique stores
  • Overnight excursions to the sea and day-trips to Rome beaches
  • Hot air balloon tours
  • Hot springs excursions
  • Lake Trasimeno tours
  • Umbria abandoned castle and fortress tour
  • Sustainable farming tour 
  • Babysitting services
  • Soccer, archery, and horseback riding camps for kids
  • Motorized mountain bike rentals
  • Electric car rental 
  • Golf-cart tours of Rome and Florence
  • Hiking/naturalist guides to national/regional parks - mountain hiking available
  • Fishing/Hunting Excursions

Payment Options

  • Payment in full (€500 non-refundable deposit is included. No refunds will be issued within 60 days prior to the start of the workshop. See refund policy for more details).
  • Non-refundable €500 deposit (Balance due must be paid a minimum of 30 days prior to workshop).
  • Balance payment (after €500 deposit).

Required Forms

All ICA participants; whether coming independently, with a group or through a college / university, must provide the following completed forms and information to icarts.info@gmail.com at least 2 weeks prior to attending their program. 
Emergency Contact & Medical Information »Liability Waiver »
Proof of Insurance / Travel Insurance
Itinerary and Passport
For detailed information and to download the required forms, please visit our Guides and Forms page.

Itinerary

Day 1, Sunday June 15th

  • Arrive Rome/Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO)
  • Bus Departs FCO at 12:00 PM
  • Arrival at Monte Castello di Vibio appx.: 2:30 PM
  • Lunch
  • Orientation/ Rest/ Tour of village
  • 8:00 - 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 Slide show of sites

Day 2: Monday, June 16th

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • 9:30 – 1:00 Independent work and gather materials (hardware store, etc.)
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
  • 2:00 – 6:30 Independent work and gather materials
  • 6:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 Participants share work

Day 3: Tuesday, June 17th

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • 9:30 – 1:00 Independent work and gather materials
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
  • 2:00 – 4:00 Dowsing Workshop
  • 6:00 -8:00 Studio time or performances in the park or around town
  • 6:30 - 8:00 Pack and prepare for 4-night overnight trip to Monti Sibillini National Park
  • 8:00 - 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 – 10:30 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc

Day 4: Wednesday, June 18th

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • 9:30 – 11:00 Truffle Hunt
  • 11:00 Depart for  Sorgente della Morica
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Picnic Lunch
  • 2:00 Depart for Sorgente della Morica
  • 3:00 Arrive Mole di Narni, performance opportunity and river swimming
  • 5:30 Depart for Monte Castello di Vibio
  • 6:30 – 8:00 Arrive Monte Castello di Vibio - Free time or independent work
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 – 10:00 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.

Day 5: Thursday, June 19th

  • 8:30 – 9:00 Breakfast
  • 9:00 Depart for Sibillini Mountains

Day 6: Friday, June 20th

  • Breakfast
  • Hike through Gola dell’Infernaccio (Gorge of Hell) with performance opportunity
  • Picnic lunch
  • Dinner in Montemonaco

Day 7: Saturday, June 21st

  • Breakfast
  • Hike Monte Sibilla (2,173 m/7,129 ft)
  • Moderate 4-6 hr round trip hike with stunning views and the entrance to the
  • Sibyl’s cave at the summit
  • Performance opportunity during ascent/decent or at the summit
  • Picnic lunch at summit
  • Dinner in Montemonaco

Day 8: Sunday, June 22nd

  • Breakfast
  • Return to Monte Castello di Vibio
  • Stop in Castelluccio for wildflowers
  • Lunch in Norcia
  • Stop Ponte del Torre
  • 8:00 - 9:00 Dinner

Day 9: Monday, June 23rd

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • Independent work
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
  • Independent work
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 – 10:00 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.

Day 10: Tuesday, June 24th

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • Independent work
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
  • Independent work
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 – 10:00 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.

Day 11 Wednesday, June 25th

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • 10:30 Depart for Grotte di Frasassi
  • Lunch along the way
  • 2:00 Arrive Grotte di Frasassi
  • 2:30 timed entrance to cave and performance opportunity
  • 5:00 Depart for Monte Castello di Vibio
  • 6:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 – 10:00 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.

Day 12: Thursday, June 26th

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • 9:30 – 1:00 Independent work - edit footage, prepare for screening/performances
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
  • 2:00 – 6:30 Independent work - edit footage, prepare for screening/performances
  • 6:30 – 8:00 Free time or independent work
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Dinner
  • 9:00 – 10:00 Optional time for presentations, films, lectures, etc.

Day 13: Friday, June 27th

  • 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast
  • 9:30 – 1:00
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Lunch
  • 6:00 - 8:00 Screening and live performances - Monte Castello di Vibio exhibition hall
  • Independent Dinner (there is a restaurant and pizza place in town)

Day 14: Saturday, June 28th

  • All day: Clean up, pack, free or independent work
  • 11:00  Brunch
  • 8:00 – 9:00 Farewell Dinner

Day 15: Sunday June 29th (Departure day for two-week programs)

  • Rome/Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO); Bus Departs Monte Castello at 5:30 AM
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